Automatic circuit-controlling apparatus.



G. G. CUNNINGHAM.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS. Y

APPLICATION FILED FEB.'7,1914.'

1,132,654. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

F/Fl/GAL SWITCH q/Vi/tmeooeo a d vwa M307 41. QAQE M W CUNNINGHAM,

03 NEW YGRL'Z, N.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Gr. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of Bronx, State of New York, have made a certain nevv and useful lnvention in Automatic Circuit-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically controlling electric circuits.

The object of the invention is to provide means which are simple and eiiicient for automatically controlling electric circuits.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the nature and having the purpose stated wherein the circuit is controlled through centrifugal action.

A further object is to provide means in an apparatus of the nature referred to for continuing the circuit closed, or open if preterred, for a controllable period of time after the arrest of the prime mover through which the centrifugal action of the apparatus is produced.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:-Figure l is a view in elevation of a circuit controlled apparatus embodying the principles of-my invention the top or cover of the inclosing casing for the contact appa' ratus being shown in open position. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing parts of an arrangement embodying my invention for securing a continuation of the circuit control after the arrest of the prime mover, and which arrangement is adjustable as to the duration of such continued control. Fig. 3 is a broken view in section showing a modified form of another part of the apparatus for securing the time or duration of circuit control after the arrest of-the prime mover.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 23,

Application area February 7, rare. Serial in. 917,114.

In my pending application for patent Serial No. 788,794, filed Sept. 9, 1913, have shown described and claimed an automatic circuit controlling apparatus for use in various relations, and wherein the desired circuit control is efiected through centrifugal action from a prime moving source. ln the construction therein shown as an embodiment of the invention claimed, a rotatable block or head is driven through suitable gear or other connections with the prime moving source, and through the centrifugal action developed by the rotation of said head circuit closing connections are opened, said connections being automatically closed upon arrest of the prime mover. In the specific structures disclosed in said application the members of a pair of contact brushes arranged in the circuit to be controlled, bear respectively on conducting members which are insulated from each other by centrifugal action of the apparatus, but are brought into electrical communication with each other upon arrest of the centrifugal action. In some situations where such an apparatus is desirable, it is important to maintain the circuit to be con trolled in open condition for a regulable period of time after the arrest of the prime mover, and it is among the special objects and purposes of my present invention to provide means which are simple and eilicient for accomplishing this result.

In the drawing, reference numeral 5, designates the block or head through the rotation of which, and the resulting centrifugal action developed, the circuit to be controlled is maintained open. Associated with the head or bloclr 5, are the conducting members 10, 15, which are insulated from each other and maintained electrically separated during the time the head or block 5, is under rotation, but are brought into electrical connection with each other immediately upon arrest of the rotary movement of the head or block. Associated with the conducting members 10, 15, are brushes or contacts 11, 16, which are included in or associated with the circuit to be controlled. The head or block 5, is carried by a shaft 6, to which rotary movement is imparted from any suitable prime moving source. In the form shown a gear 9 carried by shaft 6, is engaged by a gear 12 on a countershaft 13, upon which is carried a pinion 17, which, in turn is driven by a gear 8, on a driving shaft 7, operated from any convenient source not shown. It is to be understood that while I have shown and have thus described a specific construction of drive gearing for the head or block 5, my invention as defined in the claims is not to be limited or restricted to the exact gear arrangement shown.

Except as hereinafter noted, the parts so far described may be of the same construction and arrangement as shown and described in my pending application above referred to.

In order to maintain the rotary movement of head or block 5, for a desirable period of time after the arrest of the prime mover, and in order to adjustably control the extent of duration of such continuation of rotary movement, in accordance with my present invention, 1 provide in one form of embodiment of my invention, the following arrangement. On shaft 6, I mount a fly wheel 20, to which rotary movement is imparted when shaft is rotated, and which, during the rotary movement thereof, develops momentum which tends to continue the rotation thereof after the driving force for shaft 6 is arrested. In order that this momentum developed by the lly wheel 20 may continue to impart rotary movement to shaft 6, and hence to the head or block 5, after the prime driver of the apparatus is arrested one of the gears in the train of drive gearing through which shaft 6 is driven must be a loose gear, that is mounted loosely on its shaft. in the particular form shown, thepinion 17 is loosely mounted on shaft 13, but is designed to beadjustably connected to rotate therewith in any suitable manner. In the form shown a stud 14, is adapted to be inserted in one or another of suitable spaced holes 18, in the face of the pinion 17, and cooperating with said stud 14, is a pin 21, fixed in shaft 13. Vith this arrangement the pinion l7 drives shaft 18 through the engagement of stud 14 with the pin 21, but said shaft 13, is. free to continue its rotary movement after the pinion 17 is arrested to the extent permitted by the stud 14, or a similar stud inserted in any other of the holes 18. Thus where only one stud 14 is employed the arrest of the pinion 17 will permit the shaft 13 to continue to re- ,volve through substantially one complete revolution after the arrest of said pinion, under the impelling force of the momentum of fly wheel 20. And if another stud be inserted in some other hole 18, then the rotary movement of shaft 13 will continue,

after the arrest of the pinion to an extent determined by the position of the second stud. By providing sullicient holes 15, any desired regulation in this respect may b secured.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide means for continuing the rotation of the head or block 5, or in a somewhat broader expression of' the idea involved I continue tomaintain the circuit to be controlled in its condition as established by the normal operation of the apparatus for an adjustably regulated period of duration after the arrest of the prime mover. It is obvious that the same result may be accomplished in other ways. For example, the fly wheel 20, may be dispensed with and a convenient gear wheel of the drive gearing may be connected to the shaft on which it is mounted through a clock spring which is placed nnder tension by the prime mover and whic tension is thereby stored up and becomes effective to continue to impart a relative force after the prime mover is arrested. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the pinion 30, is loosely mounted on shaft ltl, but effects the rotation of the latter through the pin and stud engagement as above described, but the pinion 30 is connected to the shaft 13, by means of a coiled spring 31, having one end connected to the pinion 30, and the other end to shaft 13, in such relation that it exerts its tension on shaft 13 in a direction to rotate the same in the same direction, said shaft is rotated through the engagement of stud 1 with pin 21, and to an extent determined by the stud 1 t or, adjustably, by another stud mounted in the face of the pinion 30, as above explained in connection with theconstruction shown in'l igs. 1 and ()r such construction may be employed in association with the fly wheel arrangement.

As above indicated an automatic circuit controlling apparatus of the nature set forth, is applicable for use in any situation and for any purpose where it may be desired to control an electric circuit, and to maintain 'such circuit in the condition in which it is put by a prime mover for a regulable period of time after the arrest of the prime mover. Thus, in controlling the signal system employed in connection with the operation of elevators whereby when push buttons are employed to operate stop signals at the floors served by the elevator, in such manner that the stop signal at any floor set in operation by pushing the button will continue in operation until a car stops at that floor, it is desirable that the signal shall continue in operation for a period of time after the car actually stops and not be put out of operation immediately by the arrest of the car. An arrangement embodying my invention "accomplishes r sult in a most simple and effective manner, and consequently the mere slowing down or momentary arrest of a car in its travel toward or past a iioor or landing where a stop signal is displayed without stopping at that floor or landing will not necessitate a second operation of the signal push button. Simi larly in the arrangement shown, as typifying one practical embodiment of my invention, for controlling the circuit of a charging generator for a storage battery, the charging circuit is automatically opened when the generator is arrested but continues closed for a regulable interval of time after the arrest of the generator. In this. arrangement the storage battery is indicated at 22, the generator at 23, the charging circuit between the two including a switch device 2%, controlled by a solenoid 25, the circuit of which includes an energizing source 26, and the contact brushes l1, 16, all as shown in my ending application above referred to.

aving now set forth-the object and nature of my invention, and constructions embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-.

1. The combination with a movable member, of an automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit tei minals normally out of circuit connection with each other during the movement of said member, means to close the circuit between said terminals when the movement of said member ceases, and means to prevent the operation of the circuit closing means until after the movement of said member has been arrested for a definite period of time.

2. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, a 1'0- tatable member operating through the rotation thereof to maintain said terminals out of. circuit connection with each other, prime moving devices for rotating said member, and means to continue said member in rotation for a definite interval of time after the arrest of the prime moving devices.

3. The combination with a movable member, of an automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals normally out of circuit'connection with each other during the movement of said member, means to close the circuit between said terminals when the movement of said member ceases, and means to prevent the operation of the circuit closing means until after the movement of said member has been arrested whereby the period of time of arrest of said member before closure of the'circuit may be regulated.

4. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, a rotatable member operating through the rotation thereof to maintain said terminals out of circuit connection with each other, prime moving devices for rotating said member, means to continue said member in rotation after the arrest of the prime moving devices, and means for adjustably regulating the duration of such continued rotation.

5. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, centrifugally controlled devices for bridging said terminals, drive gearing for said centrifugally controlled devices, including a prime mover, and means to continue'the centrifugal action of said devices after the arrest of the prime mover.

6. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, centrifugally controlled devices for bridging said terminals, drive gearing therefor including a prime mover, means to continue the centrifugal action of said devices after the arrest of the prime mover, and means to adjustably regulate the duration of the continued centrifugal action.

7. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, a rotatable member operating through the rotation thereof to maintain said terminal out of circuit connection with each other and a drive gearing for said member, said gearing including a pinion and a shaft therefor, said pinion being loosely mounted on the shaft, a pin and stud engaging between the pinion and shaft, a prime mover for one of these parts, and means to continue the other of said parts in operation after the arrest of the prime mover.

8. An automatic circuit controlling apparatus including circuit terminals, a rotatable member operating through the rotation thereof to maintain said terminals out of circuit connection with each other, and a drive gearing for said member, including a shaft, a pinion loosely mounted thereon, a stud adjustably carried by said pinion, a cooperating pin carried by said shaft, a prime mover for the pinion and means to continue the rotation of the shaft after the arrest of the prime mover.

9. In an automatic circuit controlling aparatus circuit terminals, a rotatable memer to control the electrical connection therebetween, a shaft carrying said member, a fly wheel carried by said shaft, a drive mechanism for said shaft including a drive gear, a pinion driven therefrom, a supporting shaft on which said pinion is loosely mounted, and a pin and studconnection between said pinion and its supportingshaft.

10. In an automatic circuit controlling apparatus, circuit terminals, a rotatable member to control the electrical connection therebetween, a shaft carrying said member, a fly wheel mounted on said shaft, drive mechanism for said shaft including a drive gear and pinion, a supporting shaft on which the pinion is leosely mduntefx, a wtnesse on flhs 6% fiajy'of'Februafygfi. D; stud adjustably mounted on tha-pinion, 911(1 19%;

a pin carried by the shaft with which the adjustably mounted stud coiiperates to drive CHARLES CUNNINGHAM 5 the shaft. Witnesses:

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto'seft- W. A. DARBY,

my hand in the presence of the subscribing ISABEL LEVINSON. 

